With just more than a week left in the month-long filing period for this fall's municipal elections, mayoral races are hot while council races are not.

But there are exceptions.

Murray Mayor Dan Snarr, a two-term incumbent, already faces three challengers: Salt Lake County Councilman David Wilde, former Utah lawmaker Chad Bennion and political newcomer Mike Romero.

Veteran South Salt Lake Council members Boyd Marshall and Robert Gray have filed to run against incumbent Mayor Wes Losser, who seeks his second term.

Taylorsville Mayor Janice Auger - finishing her second term - said she's bowing out in order to spend more time with her family. But three candidates already have signed on for a chance to take her place: Council Chairman Russ Wall, and residents Roger Belgard and David Mouritsen.

Murray, South Salt Lake and Taylorsville operate under the council-mayor form of government, where the mayor serves full time as the city's chief executive.

Cities such as Holladay, Midvale, West Jordan and West Valley City operate under the council-manager form of government, with part-time mayors who are part of the city council. A full-time city manager is hired to run the city.

Adam Leffler, 34, filed to run against West Valley City Mayor Dennis Nordfelt, but no one has stepped forward, with two weeks to go, to run against Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb or Midvale Mayor JoAnn Seghini.

West Jordan's race has already begun to heat up.

After four years as West Jordan's mayor, Bryan Holladay has a number of opponents lined up against him.

None come from within the City Council, but at least one is coming at Holladay from a position that the mayor opposed.

Jeff Haaga is one of the three West Jordanites - another is Councilman Mike Kellermeyer - who have filed a suit with the Utah Supreme Court to change the mayor's job.

The trio believe the city would be better run if the mayor were a full-time position. Currently, the mayor is the first among equals on the City Council.

But Holladay doesn't believe that issue will dominate the fall campaign.

"It will be an issue from [Haaga's] side," Holladay said.

Riverton's full-time mayor, Mont Evans, evidently meant it when he said he had no plans to run for re-election. So far, a current City Council member and another Riverton resident are the only ones to file for Evans' job.

A year ago, Evans said, "The citizens of Riverton have used me up" and called an end to a 24-year political career that includes 14 years as a state lawmaker.

Sandy's full-time mayor, Tom Dolan, seeks a fourth term and, so far, no one is lined up to run against the politically powerful incumbent.

Several council incumbents across the Salt Lake Valley remain unopposed and one race - Holladay's District 3 council seat - lacks a candidate. Sandy Thackeray currently occupies that seat and chose not to seek re-election.

However, two council races have sparked enough interest to appear on the ballot during the October primary.

In West Valley City, Jeremy Castellano, Mario Cisneros and Mike Winder have challenged incumbent Barbara Thomas for the at-large council seat. Thomas seeks her fourth term.

South Salt Lake's District 2 council race has also heated up with Lonnie Casey, Edna Soderquist and Wendy Losee hoping to nab the seat currently occupied by Renee Watts. Watts is finishing her second term and chose not to run again.

Alta - Salt Lake County's least-populated locale - hasn't seen much political activity - yet.

During the last election cycle, Alta became one of Utah's hotbeds of politics as two candidates - Kevin Tolton and his mother, Judith Maack - were booted from the ballot.

City officials ruled the two hadn't lived in Alta for 12 months prior to the election.

The two countered they were being singled out and thought others left on the ballot didn't meet the requirement either.

cmckitrick@sltrib.com

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